She's Electric: 5 Benefits of Buying an Electric Car

It’s no surprise 2018 has been hailed the ‘Year of the Electric Car’. Taking action against environmental issues is becoming more of a global priority, and Ireland is no exception, with the sale of diesel and petrol cars set to be phased out by 2030[SA1] . And really, there’s no better time to consider making the change. With a whole array of versatile models on the market, manufacturers are constantly honing the batteries of these cars so that they can manage longer journeys without needing an emergency charge. You’ll also make impressive financial savings when you cut out the price of fuel, not to mention cheaper tax and maintenance costs. Tempted? Here are five reasons to go electric…

The most significant benefit you’ll experience when swapping to electric driving is undoubtedly financial. Plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) run off energy stored in rechargeable batteries, so you won’t need to fill the engine with petrol or diesel. Rather, you pay for the electricity used to charge the car, whether this is via a specially installed unit at your own home (where the cost will be added to your standard bill), or at a public charging point, which is free to use.

Traditionally, there’s been a perception that electric cars are very expensive to buy, but as more makes and models continue to come onto the market, that’s no longer the case. Today, most manufacturers either have an EV on offer, or are planning to unveil one in the coming months and years. There are another couple of attractive incentives for Irish drivers too. Firstly, as part of an initiative to encourage buyers to make the change, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides grants of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of an EV. Once you’ve made the switch, you can also apply for up to €600 back on the installation of the aforementioned home charger unit, meaning you can leave your car charging overnight and have it ready to go in the morning.

Of course, the electric car’s other big plus is its environmental impact. Because they don’t run on fuel, EVs don’t emit harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. This results in less pollution, improving air quality in our towns and cities. They’re also a much quieter drive, thus reducing noise pollution too. 

Because your EV’s motor has fewer parts than a complex petrol or diesel engine, it’s less likely to break down, and as such, maintenance is much more straightforward. Additionally, you won’t ever need to change the oil (there’s none to change), replace spark plugs, or do many of the other routine maintenance checks you would with a fuel-powered car.

Thanks to a combination of better batteries and a whole network of charging points dotting up all around the country, the oft-cited ‘range anxiety’ associated with EVs can finally become a thing of the past. In fact, there are currently 1,100 public, standard and fast charge points in Ireland. If you regularly travel cross-country, you’ll no doubt have spotted some at service stations on major roads – as mentioned above, these are free to use. They’re efficient too; charging your car up to 80% capacity in as little as 25 minutes, meaning you can pop into the shop while your EV’s plugged in.

We’ve got lots of great Car Finance options to choose from. You can apply online through AIB Internet Banking & the AIB Mobile App. You can also book a branch appointment or phone 1890 724 724 if you’d like to speak to someone in person.

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